RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access

Genome-wide analysis, molecular cloning and expression profiling reveal tissue-specifically expressed, feedback-regulated, stress-responsive and alternatively spliced novel genes involved in gibberellin metabolism in Salvia miltiorrhiza Qing Du, Caili Li, Dongqiao Li and Shanfa Lu* Background: Gibberellin (GA), a classical phytohormone, plays significant roles in plant growth and development. It shares the important intermediate diphosphate precursor, GGPP, with the main lipophilic bioactive components, diterpenoid tanshinones in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, one of the most important Traditional Chinese Medicine materials and an emerging model medicinal plant. Analysis of GA metabolism and regulation may help to demonstrate the biological functions of GAs and the crosstalk between GA metabolism and tanshinone biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza. However, genes involved in the conversion of ent-kaurene to GAs have not been systematically studied. Results: Through genome-wide prediction and molecular cloning, twenty two candidate gibberellin metabolis